Box says delivered, but wasn't

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by Beer_Economicus, Nov 14, 2022.

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  1. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've seen this a couple times before, but I haven't personally experienced it. Hoping for some feedback from the community.

    I sent a box via FedEx. It says it was delivered. This morning it said it was delivered at 11am, but this afternoon that changed to 2:38pm. The person that was supposed to receive this box did not receive this box, no one at the house did, and their neighbors did not get it. They also have a barky dog that never alerted. So, the guy never cave.

    This was a 30lb+ extremely heavy duty box. Practically double boxed it was so thick. Corners were reinforced. Everything had excessive packing. This was one of the most bomb-proof boxes I've ever shipped. Also, I ensured there was enough packing that there wasn't an incredibly noticeable sound, if that matters much.

    Box went from Ohio to Connecticut.

    I will call FedEx tomorrow, but I guess my main question is: Has anyone been successful in getting insurance money/shipping refunded in this instance?

    I assume there's no getting the box back - it won't ever show up. So, I'm exploring what the rest of my options are. I still gotta get a box to the trader.
     
    #1 Beer_Economicus, Nov 14, 2022
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  2. bret27

    bret27 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,064) Mar 10, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Possible positive outcome:
    I’ve noticed the last couple years FedEx has outsourced to independent deliverers during the holidays.
    I’ve seen it say delivered. Then the next day it’s actually delivered by some dude in a random white van.
     
    #2 bret27, Nov 14, 2022
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  3. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    1. Yes, this has happened to me before (specifically, it's happened multiple times with FedEx and I've heard of it happening to neighbors within my locale via the same carrier).
    2. To answer your main question: no, I haven't heard of success obtaining an insurance payout (as it pertains to beer) when this occurs.
    3. However, I wouldn't lose hope entirely if this just happened yesterday. I've had boxes delivered the next day or 2 days past delviery date before as well.
     
    #3 William_Navidson, Nov 14, 2022
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  4. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks to both of you. I'm very hopeful that things will show up, but I'm also trying to plan a bit for the worst.

    Unless you bought something just to ship, I don't know how you'd ever prove what's inside. Not like anyone takes pictures or has a receipt for what they ship. All I know (and all they knew) is that I put $150 as the insured amount. As long as I can show that the box wasn't actually delivered, I would *hope* (what a dumb word here) that they would be obligated to refund me without me having to prove contents. I mean, it's not like the box was "lost", and it's going to turn up as "Oh, we found alcohol, but it was marked as lost in the system". It shows delivered. That means either the driver stole the package or it was delivered to a completely separate address.
     
    #4 Beer_Economicus, Nov 14, 2022
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  5. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    In the past, I believe they've sought a receipt for the contents of the package. There will, at the very minimum, be some sort of follow up or request for proof. Whether you want to go down that road and/or how far is totally up to you obviously, but I've found it easier to chalk it up to a cost of doing business (or splitting somehow with the recipient depending on context). Which sucks... but best of luck!
     
    #5 William_Navidson, Nov 14, 2022
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  6. not2quick

    not2quick Grand Pooh-Bah (3,600) Dec 1, 2015 Missouri
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Damn, sorry to hear this Darwin. Hope things turn out.
     
    #6 not2quick, Nov 14, 2022
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  7. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks! Yea, I haven't settled on exactly what I am going to do yet. If this was a box that was actually "lost", I don't think I'd be pursuing the refund - but on a box that was just misdelivered? It seems worth at least walking down that road. At bare minimum they should refund me for the shipping charges.
     
    #7 Beer_Economicus, Nov 14, 2022
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  8. Bhubbard34

    Bhubbard34 Pooh-Bah (2,585) Mar 4, 2016 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I had a guy in NH ship me a bunch a HF cans that were “lost” by UPS. I think he did file a claim and did eventually receive a check….showing a receipt to UPS for HF BA Maple Syrup.
     
    #8 Bhubbard34, Nov 14, 2022
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  9. Yabu

    Yabu Savant (1,150) Feb 4, 2015 California
    Trader

    The direct answer to your question in bold.... No. From my experiences, fedex doesn't care once it's marked "delivered" . Their response "you should of requested a signature of the package"

    However, don't lose hope yet. Still might be delivered later or found..

    I've had a random issues over the years.

    Last year fedex marked a box delivered, but it never arrived. My wife was home that day, and looking at our ring doorbell Fedex never came that day. Checked our neighbors and never found the box.( I will add, I'm at a condo complex, and I there have been a few times when fedex delivered to the wrong unit) In this case - Never resolved the missing box.

    Earlier this year a friend that I proxy (he's in NC) , emailed me the label. I used the label and dropped it off at fedex. The same day, another trader (in VA) sent me a box. With THE EXACT TRACKING #.

    Fedex returned the next day what I just dropped off one day earlier. (even though the label had a ship from & ship to address to NC ) Fedex's system screwed up, and scrambled the tracking #'s / labels. lol

    In the meantime the trader asked if I really got his box, because the system showed it was delivered the next day (from VA to CA), which is impossible. In the end, fedex updated the labels and all worked out.

    Also earlier this year, I had 5 boxes coming on one day. 4 out of 5 were delivered, but all 5 boxes were marked Delivered. I thought the fedex driver ripped me off !. Then the next day, the missing box.... was delivered.


    And yes during this holiday season - more likely random issues may come up, in a bad way. Yesterday, I had a good experience. Fedex came to deliver around 4pm on a Sunday, I wasn't home. Then the driver came back the same day.... at 8pm and re-delivered. That's a first!!!

    I hope your missing box turns up eventually.
     
    #9 Yabu, Nov 14, 2022
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  10. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    An Update:

    The box did arrive safe and sound - and quite early (10:43am). By the time I learned it had been delivered, I had already contacted FedEx, filed a claim/started the process, and so on. Here's what I figured out:

    • When I called and they asked me for the tracking number, the automated system told me there were 2 with the same number, so they asked for when it was shipped.
    • After talking to someone 'live', there was no mention of a second tracking number, and to be honest I forgot to ask. I would have thought they would have mentioned it.
    • They put in the claim.
    • After finding out the package had been delivered, I searched the tracking number and indeed was now alerted to there being 2 tracking numbers.
    • The second one originated at 3am this morning at the facility. The only movement for that number was onto the delivery truck and once delivered.
    • Everything was safe and sound.

    I haven't received any additional information, but I suspect what happened is this:
    • Either they chose to not deliver it or forgot or accidentally clicked delivered when it should have been "checked-in" instead.
    • When they realized this, they had to correct for the fact that it was already showing as delivered. --> They duplicated the tracking number.
    • Delivered as normal.

    Thanks for everyone's feedback.
     
    #10 Beer_Economicus, Nov 15, 2022
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  11. bret27

    bret27 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,064) Mar 10, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Next time go with this tried and true strategy...

    [​IMG]
     
    #11 bret27, Nov 15, 2022
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  12. Fermented-nate

    Fermented-nate Zealot (649) Sep 15, 2013 California
    Trader

    I have found USPS and Fedex tracking to be inaccurate, at best. I had a similar experience about a year ago. Said it was delivered, showed up the next day.
     
    #12 Fermented-nate, Nov 15, 2022
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  13. flat_lander

    flat_lander Pooh-Bah (2,490) May 11, 2016 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Glad it worked our for you Darwin. It's a moot point now, but does anyone remember which east coast state was a black hole for boxes? I feel like it was VT, NH, or CT. And I believe it was Fed Ex that was eating them.
     
    #13 flat_lander, Nov 15, 2022
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  14. MattOC

    MattOC Pooh-Bah (2,100) Jan 13, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I could be wrong, but I thought it was a combo of FedEx and VT.
     
    #14 MattOC, Nov 17, 2022
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  15. jhavs

    jhavs Grand Pooh-Bah (3,587) Apr 16, 2015 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    FedEx and VT definitely had issues a few years ago. Was a specific location or two but can’t remember which.
    The West Lebanon, NH location also would mark boxes as alcohol often. The NH one let me show ID and pick up a couple times but they sent one back to the sender on a different occasion. At that point I started requesting senders use USPS.
     
    #15 jhavs, Nov 17, 2022
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  16. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I thought that UPS also had an issue, so USPS became the standard in the NE?

    As @jhavs mentions, I think there were a 2-3 hubs that became black holes. Can't recall anymore data than that. I do know that I have traditionally always used USPS as a result in the NE - just not to chance it. This was just a large enough box that it would have required minimum 2 lg flat rate boxes, but a third box of some size would have been smart. It appears that - at least when going to Connecticut - that all forms of shipping are OK. Otherwise, I would have sent USPS again, even though it would have cost more.
     
    #16 Beer_Economicus, Nov 17, 2022
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  17. masilva48

    masilva48 Crusader (482) Sep 30, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Is USPS best to use for shipping beer if you live in NE? I moved to Boston recently. I used to use UPS but have had some issues in the past. If anyone in NE has feedback on which is best - UPS, FedEx, USPS - and any other tips (flat rate box, ground vs 2 day, how to pack, etc to not have any issues) I'd really appreciate it.
     
    #17 masilva48, Jan 16, 2023
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  18. TurkeysDrinkBeer

    TurkeysDrinkBeer Savant (1,064) Sep 8, 2018 Virginia
    Society Trader

    My own personal rule of thumb is to never use FedEx. I ship using UPS and USPS but use Pirate Ship to create the label and skip all of the in store BS. Been doing it this way for a long time now with zero issues and it seems to be the cheapest and fastest route as well.
     
    #18 TurkeysDrinkBeer, Jan 17, 2023
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  19. masilva48

    masilva48 Crusader (482) Sep 30, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Thanks so much, I've never even heard of Pirate Ship - will give it a shot.
     
    #19 masilva48, Jan 17, 2023
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  20. TurkeysDrinkBeer

    TurkeysDrinkBeer Savant (1,064) Sep 8, 2018 Virginia
    Society Trader

    Honestly can't sing their praises enough. Third party shipping company that uses UPS and USPS as carriers and at a really nice discount. Super reliable and have even used them multiple times for international shipping. Free to set up an account and a pretty user friendly website. If you have any problems feel free to reach out, I'm happy to answer any questions or walk you through it.
     
    #20 TurkeysDrinkBeer, Jan 17, 2023
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